Global destinations Cambodia plus raffles- July August 2014

It was during ATF (ASEAN Tourism Forum), Kuching that I

had the opportunity of interacting with John Neutze, Director

of Sales and Marketing, Raffles Hotel Le Royal and Raffles

Grand Hotel d'Angkor, Cambodia. While I had been to many

countries across the globe Cambodia had eluded me. When I

mentioned the same John was quick enough to invite me to both

his properties in Cambodia and said, “A visit to Angkor Wat is a

must. It’s the largest temple complex in the world. You plan your

trip and we will host you.”

I had to agree with him but I had a tight schedule. I decided to

club the visit to my trip to Hong Kong in April. So instead of tak-

ing a direct flight to Hong Kong from Mumbai, I routed myself

via Bangkok. Since I had to visit two cities in Cambodia - Phnom

Penh and Siem Reap I was on the look out for an airline that had

good connections to both cities from Bangkok. The most conven-

ient airline was Bangkok airways. I got in touch with Passapong

Jirawattanasak Deputy Manager - Regional & International Cor-

porate Communications Department. The airline was kind

enough to fly me down to both cities.

Bangkok Airways is Thailand's first privately owned domestic

airline and operates scheduled services to destinations in Thai-

land, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Laos, Maldives,

Burma, India and Singapore. The airline distinguishes itself

from most other airlines with its initiative of providing

comfortable boutique lounges to all passengers (including

economy) at no extra charge. Each lounge has free snacks

as well as hot or cold drinks. Passengers can also enjoy free

internet access. I was able to enjoy the lounges at the air-

port and felt nice that an airline is going out of way to make

the economy passengers also comfortable.

On arrival at the Phnom Penh airport, being a VIP pas-

senger of the airline and the first to step out, I had my visa

processed in a few minutes (USD 20 1 photo). Indians get

visa on arrival for 30 days at both Phnom Penh and Siem

Reap International Airports. Incase you want you can apply

for e-Visa.

The vehicle from Raffles picked me up from the airport.

Fortunately there was not much traffic and we reached the

hotel in 30 minutes. Raffles Hotel Le Royal looked quite grand as

we entered the porch. The lobby was equally imposing and the

size caught my attention. Noemie Payumo, Manager, Marketing

Communications, Raffles Hotel Le Royal & Raffles Grand Hotel

d’Angkor was there to receive me and after a brief chat she took

me to my room.

Over a wonderful vegetarian lunch at Restaurant Le Royal that

serves Royal Cambodian cuisine and modern French cuisine,

Noemie Payumo explained the long history of the hotel. Built in

1929 the hotel had only 55 rooms. Over the years the hotel

changed names several times before regaining a new lease of life

when in 1996 Raffles International Limited decided to renovate

it. All bungalows surrounding the hotel were demolished and

replaced by three new, more substantial wings. The main building

was left intact and completely refurbished. The guestrooms,

lobby, bar, private rooms and ballroom were again refurbished in

2011. The hotel now boasts a total of 185 guestrooms and suites

- 102 State Rooms, 3+ Landmark Rooms, 12 Executive Suites, 10

Colonials Suites, 4 Personality Suites, 5 Landmark Suites, 2

brand new Balcony Suites, 1 Le Royal Suite. The hotel even

today has an artistic statement of Khmer, Art Deco and French

P u r e I n s p i r a t i o n

Global Destinations July - Aug 20146

Mesmerizing Cambodia

Using the twin Raffles hotels located in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap as a base Chandragupta Amritkarrelished both the Cambodian hospitality and the beautiful palaces and temples.

style – giving the guest all modern facilities as well as the old

authentic experience. I was fortunate to be allotted a room in the

old wing. My room was equally impressive – a suite with a beau-

tiful bathtub.

The hotel located in beautiful tropical grounds several locations

where one can relish a variety of food and drink. Apart from

Restaurant Le Royal theres the Caf/ Monivong an all day dining

– buffet or a la carte restaurant where I had breakfast – a well

spread one. The restaurant serves International and AsianGCam-

bodia themes and cuisine. The Elephant Bar where I had a long

chat with John (before going to dinner with him) serves original

cocktails and a wide selection of premium spirits with some

savoury snacks. The bar has truly a colonial atmosphere with

wicker chairs and ceiling painted with elephants, a snooker table,

a piano etc.

The Raffles Spa has a fully equipped gymnasium, sauna,

Jacuzzi, steam and massage rooms. They also have a 25m lap

pool and family fun pool located in the centre of the hotel. MICE

is one of the highlights of the hotel with a Royal Ballroom that

can accommodate 440 persons making it an ideal setting for an

International conference or even a wedding. Apart from this they

have five more meeting areas catering from 15 to 150 people.

The next day I had the pleasure of meeting Pieter van der

Hoeven, M, Raffles Hotel Le Royal, Phnom Penh who really

takes pride in the hotel he is looking after. “The hotel has seen 85

successful years hosting who is who of the global world. Since its

inception there have been many famous guests who have stayed

and this is mostly because of certain discretion. I don’t think

Jackie Kennedy, President Barack Obama, Prime Minster Abe

from Japan, matinee idol Charlie Chaplin or Christine Legard

from the IMF would mind me telling you they stayed. But more

important are the guests that we welcome every day. Each is treat-

ed as a VIP and become part of the Raffles Cambodia story. Ours

is the only hotel in Phnom Penh to provide a full 24-hour Butler

Service – for all guests staying in the heritage building,” said

Pieter. Adding further on his keenness to take care of each guest

Pieter said, “My father was a hotelier so I grew up in the business,

it is in my blood and a wonderful lifestyle choice that has allowed

me to work in Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam, Bali, Australia and

even spend some time in Hawaii.”

Phnom Penh is beautiful and there’s a lot to see. My friend

Meng Phala, Managing Director, Kambuja Voyages was kind

enough to arrange for my local sightseeing with a guide at both

the cities.

Raffles is located in the heart of Phnom Penh within easy

access to most city's attractions. My guide first took me to the

National Museum. It showcases one of the finest examples of

Khmer architecture. The museum houses sculptural, ceramics,

bronzes, and ethnographic objects. The Museum’s collection

includes over 14,000 items, from prehistoric times to periods

before, during, and after the Khmer Empire, which at its height

stretched from Thailand, across present-day Cambodia, to south-

ern Vietnam. Its collection of important Buddhist and Hindu

sculpture is an attraction.

From here we proceeded to Wat Phnom a Buddhist temple that

was built in 1373, and stands 27 metres (88.5 ft) above the

ground. It is the tallest religious structure in the city. Its walking

distance from Raffles. The interior has a central altar complex

with a large bronze seated Buddha surrounded by other statues,

flowers, candles and items of devotion and worship. The walls

are covered with murals, especially of Jataka stories of the Bud-

dha's earlier reincarnations before his enlightenment. The south-

west corner of the vihar and stupa, is a small shrine dedicated to

Lady Penh.

In the afternoon we went to the impressive Royal Palace. Built

in 1866 and covering an area of 174,870 square metres, it serves

as the royal residence of the king of Cambodia. Its amazing and

worth the visit. The complex is divided into four main com-

pounds, on the south side is the Silver Pagoda, to the north side is

the Khemarin Palace and the central compound contains the

Throne Hall and to the west is the private sector or the Inner

Court. Theres also the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, stupas and

mural paintings. Inside the Silver Pagoda (which draws its name

from the 5,000 silver tiles that pave its floor) are hundreds of gifts

given to Cambodian king, including a solid-gold Buddha encrust-

ed with 9,584 diamonds weighing 90 kilograms.

For those who love shopping there are three main markets and

I was able to visit two of them - Olympic Market near the

Olympic Stadium which features mostly wholesale goods and the

Russian Market that has a large selection of souvenirs, curios,

antiques, carvings, Buddha statues, handicrafts, silks, fabrics,

DVDs, inexpensive electronic goods, Jewellery and gemstones

(but be aware of fakes). The third is the Night Market located on

the riverfront.

While Phnom Penh has a lot of attractions it also has a sad past.

My guide took me to Toul Sleng - a genocide museum (and


Global DestinationsJuly - Aug 2014 7

brought back memories of my visit to Dachau concentration

camp near Munich). The site, a former high school, was used as

the notorious Security Prison by the Khmer Rouge regime from

its rise to power in 1975 to its fall in 1979. Tuol Sleng means

"Hill of the Poisonous Trees" was only one of at least 150 execu-

tion centers in the country and as many as 20,000 prisoners there

were later killed. From 1975 to 1979, an estimated 17,000 people

were imprisoned at Tuol Sleng and were repeatedly tortured and

coerced into naming family members and close associates, who

were in turn arrested, tortured and killed. Medical experiments

were performed on certain prisoners. Inmates were sliced open

and had organs removed with no anaesthetic. Many Indians and

Pakistanis were also imprisoned.

The buildings at Tuol Sleng are preserved as they were left

when the Khmer Rouge were driven out in 1979. The regime kept

extensive records, including thousands of photographs. Several

rooms of the museum are now lined, floor to ceiling, with black

and white photographs of some of the estimated 17,000 prisoners

who passed through the prison. The site has four main buildings

- Building A, B, C, and D. Building A holds the large cells in

which the bodies of the last victims were discovered. Building B

holds galleries of photographs. Building C holds the rooms sub-

divided into small cells for prisoners. Building D holds other

memorabilia including instruments of torture.

After a two nights stay I took the morning Bangkok Airways

flight to Siem Reap. As expected on arrival the hotels driver was

there to receive me and in 15 minutes we reached the hotel. On

the way I at least saw 20 V hotels, which gave me a fair idea on

the number of tourists visiting this city for the Angkor Temples.

Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor is huge. Set amongst 15 acres of

serene grounds overlooking the Royal gardens it’s close to the

Old Market. Like Raffles Hotel Le Royal this hotel also has a

wonderful past. Originally opened in 1932 as Grand Hotel it was

the only luxury accommodation to tourists visiting Angkor Wat.

After an extensive restoration it was reopened in 1997 as Raffles.

As you enter the hotel on the left hand side is a very old lift -

the Original Birdcage Elevator. I had the pleasure of using it a

couple of times. The lobby overlooking

the largest swimming pool in Cambodia

is beautiful and tempting. As I waited

for my room to get ready, the staff

offered me nice cold coconut water.

Again I was provided with a nice suite

over looking the pool.

Divided into 2 wings, the hotel is

interconnected by art deco black-and-

white tiled hallways to the guestrooms

and restaurants in either direction. Each

of the 119 guestrooms and suites are

tastefully done reflecting the architec-

tural theme of the period. The hotel also

has 2 luxurious Two-Bedroom illas

(318sqm), which are the biggest in Siem

Reap.

Lunch was wonderful at Café

d'Angkor and Indians will love this

hotel as it has some authentic Indian

dishes. Please go through the menu. The Restaurant Le Grand

showcases Royal Khmer cuisine and Western fine dining. Le

Grand can be divided into three private rooms, with a collection

of 13th century ceramics and sculptures inspired by the Bayon

temple. The Wine Cellar is impressive and has one of the finest

wine selections in Asia. The other locations to enjoy your food

and drink are Elephant Bar, Poolside Terrace, The Conservatory.

I was informed by ohn not to miss the Apsara Terrace a must

to experience in Cambodia. Located in the hotel premises one can

enjoy a majestic performance with Cambodian dances and Khmer

martial art over a delightful selection of pan-Asian barbeque cui-

sine. This venue is very popular J for parties, barbecues and pre-

dinner cocktails.

For guests the hotel provides complimentary evening activities

which include wine tasting, cocktail tasting, and local culture

themed activities with Khmer Lotus flower and Palm Tree etc.

There’s complimentary WiFi throughout hotel and computer

stations on each guest floor with internet connection (a well

thought gesture). I also pampered myself at Amrita Spa which has

a selection of massage and treatments.



You do have two wonderful properties in Cambodia. But

Raffles globally has only 10 properties. How did Cambodia

get two of them?

The two properties are perfect fit for the Raffles brand and very

complementary in the SE Asian region with the flagship Raffles

Singapore. There are measured growth plans to ensure brand

integrity with hotels opening in 2014 in Jakarta and 2015 in Istan-

bul.

Maintaining such old properties must be quite a task. How

do you go about managing it?

Since the hotels were completely renovated and became Raf-

fles in 1997 a rigorous maintenance schedule is kept to ensure we

maintain the history of the building but give guests the modern

services and facilities that they expect. For instance we are cur-

rently upgrading the internet and redesigning the iconic Elephant

Bar.

A lot of hotel brands are currently emphasizing green prac-

tices. What about your hotels?

This is an important focus for the hotels and some more obvi-

ous examples include energy saving light bulbs, recycling. But of

equal relevance in a developing country like Cambodia is our

support of local community and education projects that give the

less privileged a chance to improve their lives. It is about sustain-

ability not just the environment.

Well said. How do you distinguish your property from the

rest in your city?

The history of our two hotels automatically differentiates our

hotels from any in each city having welcomed guests for over 80

years. Cambodians have a very genuine and natural approach to

service and our guests soon feel very much like Raffles is their

home and they have become part of the ongoing history of the

hotels. Many of our colleagues have been with the hotel since

1997 as have many or our repeating guests so we really are a res-

idence for many repeating well healed travelers.

How much of a role does technology play in the hospitality

business and in particular your properties?

Guests require more instant technology – when they are plan-

ning their trip they require more information and interaction with

us. We provide this through most social media and even offering

service to pre-book additional personalized services before they

arrive at the hotels.

As guests are becoming more and more health and fitness

conscious what steps is your group taking for a better well-

ness and fitness experience?

Both hotels provide an oasis in the middle of the bustle of the

cities that automatically provides a sense of wellness to the soul

after a busy day where all senses can be overloaded. For each

hotel this is centred around the iconic swimming pools, the gym

and spa. A variety of treatments are available for body and soul.

In the restaurants healthy light options are available. Our hotels

are perfectly located in each city to take a stroll to the city mar-

kets or landmarks.

What is the potential for MICE?

MICE business is generally driven by good air capacity and

over the past few years both Siem Reap and Phnom Penh have

added air service and now have connections with most major

Asian cities within 4 hours of Cambodia that give easy connec-

tions to the world beyond. Both cities offer excellent experiences

for the MICE groups with innovative events such as temple and

museum dinners

Indian market is in demand globally thanks to the increase

in spending power. Any specific plans to target the India

market?

Our hotels already attract some business from India – mostly

leisure FIT. I think with such landmark hotels in India the market

is atuned to staying at a hotel that has a story to tell. In Siem

Reap, we have also welcomed some Indian weddings in the past

few years which I think has more potential. The temples of the

area provide such a different dramatic backdrop for such a cere-

mony

On the F&B front vegetarian dishes are very important. Do

your restaurants cater to this segment?

Yes, we do have a special vegetarian menu in all outlets. Plus

with the personalized service we provide the restaurants are will-

ing to cater for specific tastes and needs

What are the key priorities for the next five years?

We will strive to continue to offer a part of history to travelers

to Cambodia while remaining relevant with the needs of the trav-

eler over the next 5 years. We want to continue to play a role in

bettering the lives of our colleagues, our communities and Cam-

bodia as a whole.



“In Siem Reap, we have also welcomed some Indian wed-

dings in the past few years”To get an insight into the twin properties we spoke

with Pieter van der Hoeven, GM and JohnNeutze, DoSM. Excerpts

Pieter van der Hoeven John Neutze

My guide arrived in the morning at around 9 am and we

proceeded to the temple complex. The guide said many

prefer to go early in the morning before it comes to hot.

On reaching the place, the guide asked me to buy a day’s pass.

They are on sale at the front gate for 1-day (USD20), 3-day

(USD40), or 7-day (USD60) durations. He informed me that he

and the driver don’t require a pass as Cambodians can enter for

free. Also the pass includes complimentary use of rest rooms in

the complex.

Many tourists use tour buses or private cars. But quite a few

even prefer a healthier, environment friendlier and economical

option - bicycles (USD1 per day). If you are keen on Khmer

architecture then you must reserve at least 3 days for the trip. It is

a good idea to take a lot of water with you though around every

temple in Angkor park you can buy some food and drinks (it's

more expensive in the Park).

The most famous are the Temple of Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom

and the Bayon Temple. While early Angkor temples were built as

Hindu temples, Jayavarman VII converted to Mahayana Bud-

dhism c. 1200 and built a new capital city of Angkor Thom

including Bayon, Ta Prohm, Preah Khan and many more as Bud-

dhist structures. However, his successor Jayavarman VIII

returned to Hinduism and embarked on an equally massive spree

of destruction, systematically defacing Buddhist images.

Bayon's plan can be divided into three levels — the first two

are bas-reliefs and the uppermost consists of the central sanctu-

ary. The outer gallery depicts scenes from everyday life and his-

torical events, while the second inner gallery depicts mythical fig-

ures and stories. In total, there are more than 1km of bas-reliefs

to be viewed in the Bayon. Located to the northwest of the

Bayon, the Baphuon is one of the largest and grandest structures

in Angkor. Built into the western face of the Baphuon is a giant

reclining Buddha, added in the 16th century after the region con-

verted from Hinduism to Buddhism. Other sites of interest

include The Elephant Terrace and The Terrace of the Leper King.

Ta Prohm is best known as the temple where trees have been

left intertwined with the stonework, much as it was uncovered

from the jungle. A few scenes from Angelina Jolie's Tomb Raider

were shot here. It’s a popular place to click photos.

Angkor Wat, an architectural masterpiece, is as imposing as

Pyramids and as impressive as our Taj Mahal. Angkor Wat,

means "Temple City" or "City of Temples" in Khmer. Breaking

from the Shaivism tradition of previous kings, Angkor Wat was

instead dedicated to Vishnu. The temple is at the top of the high

classical style of Khmer architecture which got major influence

from Kalinga architectural style.

Angkor Wat was built in the first half of the 12th century and

took 30 years to construct. It is the largest monument of the

Angkor group and the best preserved. From a distance Angkor

Wat appears to be a colossal mass of stone on one level with a

long causeway leading to the center but close up it is a series of

elevated towers, covered galleries, chambers, porches and court-

yards on different levels linked by stairways. The height of

Angkor Wat from the ground to the top of the central tower is

greater than it might appear: 213 meters (699 feet). You will find

thousands of Apsaras (celestial dancers) on the walls of the tem-

ple offering endless

visual and spiritual

enchantment.

The uppermost

level of Angkor

Wat, require climbs

up very steep stair-

cases and are best

avoided if you suf-

fer from vertigo or

are not fully confi-

dent of being able to keep your footing.


Global DestinationsJuly - Aug 2014 11

Angkor Wat

A UNESCO World Heritage site, the worlds largest religious monument (spread across 200 square

kilometers), first a Hindu and subsequently a Buddhist temple complex - Angkor Archaeological Park

is a must visit on any tourists agenda.

Global destinations Cambodia plus raffles- July August 2014

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